Chapter 12 - A Weekend
Our intention had been to shop on Saturday. We didn't. Awake from 5am she needed a sedative an hour later to calm her because she was very restless, very stiff and needed more sleep. She then slept for 3 hours from 8am but she was not up to showering until 2pm. Then later while I was at the embroidery machine I heard loud sobs from the lounge room. Unbeknowns to me she had decided to attempt pedalling the small exercise machine at which she had failed the day before. She had failed a second time. She took quite some time to calm down, then slept for an hour in her chair. Then suddenly she bounded out of the chair, almost ran (up to then her walk was a shuffle) into the lounge room, sat in front of the pedal machine and pedalled for all she was worth for some 10 minutes. The sun briefly shone through a break in the rain clouds. Then she returned to "normal". She glowed with the success, short as it was, of proving that she was capable.
Sunday saw her determined to attend church, possibly because she knew I wouldn't leave her at home on her own. She wanted us to be there during the "40 Days of Purpose" programme. We made it there only slightly late. Some hesitation at the rear of the church attempting to locate an uncrowded pew where she would feel at ease. Afterwards we even stood out of the sun talking to some friends before returning a bag of DVD's, looking in KMart for a treadmill machine advertised on special and doing the week's shopping in Coles. Including a very large pavlova base and fillings to take to my cousin's place in the evening. By the time we arrived at the checkout she had had enough and sat on the bench seat outside. Back at the house she watched some movies until time to head bush to the cousin's place the far side of the town at which we lunched last Thursday. And to think that I was so doubtful about her condition that I almost rang the cousin to cancel our visit. Little faith.
On the way into the house she tripped on a small step and fell, not heavily, but enough to hurt her right knee. With my assistance she was able to rise, able to walk, without pain. No swelling occurred. Then followed an excellent pasta, salad, red &, of course, pavlova evening. Lot's of laughter. Cousin's youngest sister & husband from down south were visiting. Such occasions bring reality back into our lives. Although each of us had large helpings of pavlova, at least half the thing was left behind in the self interest of our diets. There was no problem walking to & getting into our truck. But back home she found she was unable to climb into bed in her manner of walking on her knees across the bed, her right knee hurt too much. No swelling or bruising evident. I was unable to remain awake, she decided to watch a movie until she was tired after taking a sedative. I was wakened at 3:30am by a distressed screech from the CB radio. She had spent over 3 hours roaming the house attempting to make herself comfortable enough to sleep, & failed. I coerced her to bed, lowered her onto the bed then moved and rotated her parts until she found comfort & sleep. More calls at 5am & 7:30am for trips down the hall. I left her asleep on her left side wrong way up on the bed. Still wrong way up, she is now flat on her back, legs outstretched, most unusual for her, still sleeping soundly 2 hours later.
Some good news to report. In the last few days we have realised that she has had no back or hip pain since her last visit, a week ago last Thursday, to Margaret the Bowen practitioner. We bumped into Margaret at KMart yesterday and happily told her this.
Sunday saw her determined to attend church, possibly because she knew I wouldn't leave her at home on her own. She wanted us to be there during the "40 Days of Purpose" programme. We made it there only slightly late. Some hesitation at the rear of the church attempting to locate an uncrowded pew where she would feel at ease. Afterwards we even stood out of the sun talking to some friends before returning a bag of DVD's, looking in KMart for a treadmill machine advertised on special and doing the week's shopping in Coles. Including a very large pavlova base and fillings to take to my cousin's place in the evening. By the time we arrived at the checkout she had had enough and sat on the bench seat outside. Back at the house she watched some movies until time to head bush to the cousin's place the far side of the town at which we lunched last Thursday. And to think that I was so doubtful about her condition that I almost rang the cousin to cancel our visit. Little faith.
On the way into the house she tripped on a small step and fell, not heavily, but enough to hurt her right knee. With my assistance she was able to rise, able to walk, without pain. No swelling occurred. Then followed an excellent pasta, salad, red &, of course, pavlova evening. Lot's of laughter. Cousin's youngest sister & husband from down south were visiting. Such occasions bring reality back into our lives. Although each of us had large helpings of pavlova, at least half the thing was left behind in the self interest of our diets. There was no problem walking to & getting into our truck. But back home she found she was unable to climb into bed in her manner of walking on her knees across the bed, her right knee hurt too much. No swelling or bruising evident. I was unable to remain awake, she decided to watch a movie until she was tired after taking a sedative. I was wakened at 3:30am by a distressed screech from the CB radio. She had spent over 3 hours roaming the house attempting to make herself comfortable enough to sleep, & failed. I coerced her to bed, lowered her onto the bed then moved and rotated her parts until she found comfort & sleep. More calls at 5am & 7:30am for trips down the hall. I left her asleep on her left side wrong way up on the bed. Still wrong way up, she is now flat on her back, legs outstretched, most unusual for her, still sleeping soundly 2 hours later.
Some good news to report. In the last few days we have realised that she has had no back or hip pain since her last visit, a week ago last Thursday, to Margaret the Bowen practitioner. We bumped into Margaret at KMart yesterday and happily told her this.
posted by Kilpike | 8:32 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home